Giving back

Tim Crowley, a longtime Austinite, knows the importance of having quality pediatric health care in the region.

At the age of 2, Crowley's son was diagnosed with a mysterious and rare syndrome, Kawasaki disease, that attacks the blood and weakens the heart. Crowley remembers spending several intense days in Austin's only -- and at the time, newly-built -- children's hospital.

Although that was several years ago, Crowley, who's serving his last year as chairman of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, has never forgotten the importance of having a dedicated children's hospital.

In the years following, Crowley and his wife, Carol, have been key leaders in several charitable and community organizations, including the Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas.

Crowley serves as vice-chair of the Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, and he and Carol were instrumental in raising millions of dollars through the annual gala thrown to raise money for the center.

Crowley says his upbringing has influenced his community involvement and points to his mentor -- his father -- as the one who influenced him the most to get involved. Crowley's father was a former chamber chairman himself in the early 60s.

"You always knew where you stood with him, but he was fair," Crowley says. "He was a man who led by example. He was just very balanced in his views."

Crowley says he also draws inspiration from his wife. He and Carol are constantly seen around town, at different charitable or community events.

Crowley says he's particularly proud of his wife's accomplishments in the civic world, which include serving as co-chair of the Ronald McDonald House Capital Campaign and being a recipient of the Junior League Community Service award.

Longtime friend Tim Taylor of Austin's Jackson Walker LLP describes Crowley as one who rolls up his sleeves and entrenches himself in a cause.

"He's not just there to be part of the flow, he's there to be a leader and make a difference," Taylor says. "That's a key element of it. He doesn't just get involved and sit back and let the organization roll on. He gets involved and helps create projects."

Taylor says Crowley shows as much dedication to his friends and family as he does to his charitable efforts.

"He's one of those friends you can count on when you need him," Taylor says. "I think most folks wouldn't realize how much of a family guy he is, which is awfully hard, being involved in a high-profile job and extracurricular civic duties."

Q: Why did you get involved with the chamber when you did?

A: When Tim Crowley first got involved with the chamber in 2001, the organization was going through a rough patch. Austin's economy was crumbling, thanks to the dot-com bust and the fallout from the Sept. 11 attacks, and the chamber itself had some internal conflict.

But Crowley says he felt it was his civic duty to become co-vice-chair of the economic development board.

"Having lived in Austin almost all my life, I think economic development is important to the city," Crowley says. "I felt I needed to get involved."

Seton Family of Hospitals CEO Charles Barnett, a former chamber chair himself, says Crowley was instrumental in lifting the community back to its feet.

"When I was chamber chair and needed him to stay on for a third term as vice-chair, he was willing to do so," Barnett says. "I found him to be very generous to his time for causes that benefit the Central Texas community."

Q: Who's your most respected

competitor?

A: Crowley says he's worked against many talented bankers, but he gives particular kudos to Guy Bodine, who now serves as Wachovia Corp.'s Texas CEO. Bodine was Crowley's first banking boss when Crowley first entered banking in 1981, a career move that happened by chance.

Crowley was living in Houston and was itching to leave the city when he met a friend who worked at Austin National Bank. His friend told him about the training program at the bank. However, Crowley had no prior experience in banking nor did he have a finance degree.

Crowley credits Bodine with kicking off his career in banking.

"He took a chance on someone who, on paper, was likely not the best candidate for the Management Training Program that I entered," Crowley says.

Q: What has been your toughest business decision?

A: Crowley says his toughest decision was leaving his first banking job almost 10 years later.

"I had survived the 1980s as a banker with the same organization that had essentially changed ownership four times in 10 years," Crowley says. "It was a very difficult time for bankers and borrowers. No matter how hard you worked, the economy was just terrible and in many respects, there was little that could be done to salvage many relationships."

Crowley says the experience taught him resilience and how to be flexible in a down market.

Q: What's a little-known fact about you?

Not too many people know Crowley speaks fairly fluent Spanish and even placed out of Spanish classes in college. He says he'd like to re-engage his Spanish fluency.

In what little off-time he has, Crowley also likes to play golf, although friends would beg to differ.

"Because he is so generous with his time in volunteer work, his golf game has suffered," Barnett says with a laugh.

In detail

Family: Wife, Carol, and two children, Chris and Elizabeth.Education: Bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas; graduate of Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.Community: Serving final term as chairman of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. Co-chaired Chamber's Economic Development Council from 2001-2003, serves as vice-chair of the Central Texas Children's Medical Foundation, was co-founder of the Children's Hospital Council, and was a former board member of SafePlace Foundation.